Police rescue family penned into bedroom by 22-pound cat

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Portland police rescued a family penned into a bedroom by a 22-pound house cat after the cat had attacked a baby Sunday night.

The baby was OK, but the family – dog included – was forced to take refuge in a bedroom as the Himalayan cat continued to rage outside.

Lee Palmer called 911, saying he'd struck the cat after it attacked the 7-month-old baby.

"I kicked the cat in the rear and it has went off over the edge and we aren't safe around the cat," he said.

"The cat, we don't know what to do about the cat - he's trying to attack us. When I leave the bedroom to let the police in, I'm gonna have to fight this cat."

Police said a 911 dispatcher who stayed on the phone could hear the cat screeching in the background throughout the call.

"He was on top of the fridge, and then when something like that turns around and follows you, you're kinda getting backed up," said Teresa Barker, the cat's owner, "it's kind of a small space in here, so yeah, it was very frightening."

When police arrived at the home near Union Station, the cat fled to the kitchen and jumped onto the refrigerator. Police used a snare to capture the cat, then jailed it in its crate.

Said Officer Timothy Bocciolatt, one of two officers who responded to the call, " The cat did not want to get back in the cage, that was for sure. He wanted to be free at that point."